Media Storage Structures for Storing Content, Devices for Using Such Structures, Systems for Distributing Such Structures
Some embodiments of the invention provide a content-distribution system for distributing content under a variety of different basis. For instance, in some embodiments, the content-distribution system distributes device-restricted content and device-unrestricted content. Device-restricted content is content that can only be played on devices that the system associates with the particular user. Device-unrestricted content is content that can be played on any device without any restrictions. However, for at least one operation or service other than playback, device-unrestricted content has to be authenticated before this operation or service can be performed on the content. In some embodiments, the system facilitates this authentication by specifying a verification parameter for a piece of device-unrestricted content. The content-distribution system of some embodiments has a set of servers that supply (1) media storage structures that store content, (2) cryptographic keys that are needed to decrypt device-restricted content, and (3) verification parameters that are needed to verify device-unrestricted content. In some embodiments, the device that receives the media storage structure inserts the received cryptographic key or verification parameter in the received media storage structure. In some embodiments, the set of servers also supply cryptographic content keys for the device-unrestricted content. These keys are used to decrypt the content upon arrival, upon first playback, or at some other time. However, some embodiments do not store these cryptographic keys in the media storage structures for the device-unrestricted content.
The present invention relates to media storage structures for storing content, devices for using such structures, and systems for distributing such structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe protection of digital content transferred between computers over a network is fundamentally important for many enterprises today. Enterprises attempt to secure this protection by implementing some form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) process. The DRM process often involves encrypting the piece of content (e.g., encrypting the binary form of the content) to restrict usage to those who have been granted a right to the content.
Cryptography is the traditional method of protecting data in transit across a network. In its typical application, cryptography protects communications between two mutually trusting parties from an attack on the data in transit. However, for many digital file transfer applications today (e.g., for the transfer of audio or video content), the paradigm has shifted, as a party that receives the content (i.e., the “receiving party”) might try to break the DRM encryption that the party that supplied the content (i.e., the “distributing party”) applied to the content. In addition, with the proliferation of network penetration attacks, a third party may obtain access to the receiving party's computer and thus to the protected content.
Some pieces of content that are distributed in existing DRM systems are related to one another. However, existing DRM systems often do not allow content recipients to flexibly purchase or license a subset of the contents from a related set of DRM contents. For instance, one existing DRM system distributes certain songs along with their associated music videos. In distributing a song along with its associated music video, this DRM system rigidly requires a recipient either (1) to purchase both the song and its associated music video, or (2) to forego access to both the song and its associated music video. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a DRM system that flexibly allows content recipients to purchase or license a subset of the content from a related set of DRM contents.
Existing DRM systems typically distribute content under only one set of digital right management criteria. However, different content providers have started providing content under different basis. Accordingly, there is a need for a content distribution system that can flexibly distribute content according to different sets of digital rights criteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONSome embodiments of the invention provide a content-distribution system for distributing content under a variety of different basis. For instance, in some embodiments, the content-distribution system can distribute at least two types of content to a particular user. The first type of content is device-restricted content, while the second type of content is device-unrestricted content.
Device-restricted content is content that can only be played on devices that the system associates with the particular user. Device-unrestricted content is content that can be played on any device without any restrictions. However, for at least one operation or service other than playback, device-unrestricted content has to be authenticated before this operation or service can be performed on the content. In some embodiments, the system facilitates this authentication by specifying a verification parameter for a piece of device-unrestricted content.
The content-distribution system of some embodiments has a set of servers that supply (1) media storage structures that store content, (2) cryptographic keys (also called content keys below) that are needed to decrypt device-restricted content, and (3) verification parameters that are needed to verify device-unrestricted content. In some embodiments, the device (e.g., computer, portable player, etc.) that receives the media storage structure inserts the received cryptographic key or verification parameter in the received media storage structure.
In some embodiments, the set of servers also supply cryptographic content keys for the device-unrestricted content. These keys are used to decrypt the content upon arrival, upon first playback, or at some other time. However, some embodiments do not store these cryptographic keys in the media storage structures for the device-unrestricted content.
In some embodiments, the system supplies the cryptographic keys and verification parameters from a different set of servers than the set of servers that supply the media storage structures that contain the content. Also, in some embodiments, a media storage structure might include multiple pieces of related content (e.g., multiple pieces of related video, audio, text, sound, etc.). In some embodiments, two pieces of content are related when they relate to the same audio and/or video presentation (e.g., song, movie, music video, etc.). In some cases, two pieces of related content can be viewed or played simultaneously. In other cases, two pieces of related content can be viewed or played independently.
For each piece of content in a media storage structure with several related pieces of content, the content-distribution system of some embodiments provides a cryptographic key and/or a verification parameter. In some embodiments, each such cryptographic key is stored in the media storage structure in case of the device-restricted content, while each verification parameter is stored in the media storage structure in case of the device-unrestricted content.
In some embodiments, the device (e.g., the computer) that receives the media storage structure transfers the media storage structure to another device (e.g., to a portable player). In this transfer, one of the pieces of content from the media storage structure might be removed in the transfer of the media storage structure to the other device (e.g., in the portable player). In some cases, content is removed from the media storage structure in order to reduce the consumption of resources on the other device. In other cases, content is removed from the media storage structure because the other device does not have rights to access this other content. In removing the piece or pieces of content, some embodiments also remove the content key or verification parameter associated with this content.
The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments are set forth in the following figures.
In the following description, numerous details are set forth for the purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the description of the invention with unnecessary detail.
Some embodiments of the invention provide a content-distribution system for distributing content under a variety of different basis. For instance, in some embodiments, the content-distribution system can distribute at least two types of content to a particular user. The first type of content is device-restricted content, while the second type of content is device-unrestricted content.
Device-restricted content is content that can only be played on devices that the system associates with the particular user. Device-unrestricted content is content that can be played on any device without any restrictions. However, for at least one operation or service other than playback, device-unrestricted content has to be authenticated before this operation or service can be performed on the content. In some embodiments, the system facilitates this authentication by specifying a verification parameter for a piece of device-unrestricted content.
The content-distribution system of some embodiments has a set of servers that supply (1) media storage structures that store content, (2) cryptographic keys (also called content keys below) that are needed to decrypt device-restricted content, and (3) verification parameters that are needed to verify device-unrestricted content. In some embodiments, the device (e.g., computer, portable player, etc.) that receives the media storage structure inserts the received cryptographic key or verification parameter in the received media storage structure.
In some embodiments, the set of servers also supply cryptographic content keys for the device-unrestricted content. These keys are used to decrypt the content upon arrival, upon first playback, or at some other time. However, some embodiments do not store these cryptographic keys in the media storage structures for the device-unrestricted content.
In some embodiments, the system supplies the cryptographic keys and verification parameters from a different set of servers than the set of servers that supply the media storage structures that contain the content. Also, in some embodiments, a media storage structure might include multiple pieces of related content (e.g., multiple pieces of related video, audio, text, sound, etc.). In some embodiments, two pieces of content are related when they relate to the same presentation, such as the same audio and/or video presentation (e.g., song, movie, music video, etc.). In some cases, two pieces of related content can be viewed or played simultaneously. In other cases, two pieces of related content can be viewed or played independently.
For each piece of content in a media storage structure with several related pieces of content, the content-distribution system of some embodiments provides a cryptographic key and/or a verification parameter. In some embodiments, each such cryptographic key is stored in the media storage structure in case of the device-restricted content, while each verification parameter is stored in the media storage structure in case of the device-unrestricted content.
While this application describes receiving, storing, manipulating and using a “key,” it will be understood that a host of known techniques can be used to disguise the key. For example, key hiding, key encryption, key splitting (e.g., splitting a key into more than one piece to be stored separately), and obfuscation of read/write operations can all be used and are considered within the general concept of receiving, storing, and using a “key.”
Moreover, different embodiments use different types of media storage structures. In several embodiments described below, the media storage structures are media files. One of ordinary skill will realize that other embodiments will use different types of media storage structures.
Through this connection, the computer 115 communicates with the DRM server set 110 to obtain content. In some embodiments, the content-distribution system 100 does not entail the sale or licensing of content. Accordingly, in these embodiments, the DRM server set 110 simply enforces the distribution of content to authorized devices without considering any financial objectives.
For purposes of illustration, however, several embodiments of the content-distribution system 100 that are described below are involved in the sale or licensing of the content. Accordingly, in these embodiments, the DRM server set 110 is the server set from which the user of the computer 115 can purchase or license content. In other words, the DRM server set 110 of some embodiments is the server set that handles the financial transaction for purchasing or licensing content. In some instances, certain content can be purchased or licensed free.
After the DRM server set 110 determines that the computer 115 can obtain the content, the content-distribution system 100 uses the content caching server set 105 to provide a media file 125 to the computer 115 through the network 120. In some embodiments, the system 100 uses multiple caching servers 105 to cache content at various locations on the network, in order to improve the speed and efficiency of downloading content across the network.
In the example illustrated in
For the encrypted content piece 145 in the media storage file 125, the DRM server set 110 provides (1) a cryptographic content key 130 for decrypting the encrypted content and (2) a verification parameter 135 for verifying the authenticity of the content. Specifically, as shown in
The devices that can access the content 145 use the verification parameter 135 to authenticate the content. As further described below by reference to
In some embodiments, the verification parameter is signed by the content-distribution source (e.g., a DRM server 110) so that its content can be safely considered unaltered. In addition, the verification parameter stores different data in different embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, this parameter is used to authenticate the content 145 differently in different embodiments. For instance, in some embodiments, the verification parameter contains the identity of the distribution source of the content. In some of these embodiments, this identity is cryptographically protected (e.g., is encrypted) in the verification parameter. The devices in some such embodiments can then use the verification parameter to identify the content's source in order to determine whether the content 145 has been obtained from the appropriate distribution source.
The verification parameter of other embodiments does not identify the distribution source but provides other indicia that can be used to authenticate that the content has been provided by the appropriate distribution source. For example, in some embodiments, a particular content's verification parameter provides a complete or partial hash signature of the content (i.e., a signature that is generated by generating a hash of the entire content or of one or more parts of the content). This hash signature can later be verified through a symmetric or asymmetric hash verification process. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/377,082 describes one such hash generation and verification process, and is incorporated herein by reference. Instead of the hash signature, other embodiments might use the hash digest. In yet other embodiments, the verification parameter is cryptographically associated with its corresponding content piece through other mechanisms.
The DRM server set 110 of some embodiments distributes only one verification parameter for multiple pieces of content in a media file. However, in several embodiments described above and below, the DRM server set 110 distributes multiple verification parameters for multiple pieces of content that are in a media file.
As shown in
As mentioned above, the content-distribution system of some embodiments can distribute device-restricted and device-unrestricted content to a user. Device-restricted content is content that can be played only on devices that the system associates with the particular user. Device-unrestricted content is content that can be played on any device, but for at least one operation or service other than playback this content has to be authenticated before performing the operation and/or service.
In the example illustrated in
In the examples described above, the content-distribution system 100 utilizes two different sets of computers to provide content and to provide keys/verification parameters. One of ordinary skill will realize that in other embodiments the content-distribution system utilizes the same set of computers to provide encrypted content, keys, and verification parameters.
In the examples described above, the content-distribution system 100 utilizes one set of DRM computers to provide keys and verification parameters. However, in some embodiments, the content-distribution system uses more than one set of computers to provide cryptographic keys and verification parameters for the content. For example, keys and parameters might come from different computers. Keys for audio content may also be available from one server set while keys for related video content stored in the same media storage structure may be available from another server set. The various servers may even be owned and administered by different parties, as may be the rights they administer.
Although some embodiments have been described with reference to a simplified network configuration, it will be understood that many variations exist within the framework described in this document. For example, the DRM server may be a single computer, or may be a server that is formed by many interconnected computers, memory and/or interconnecting pieces of equipment. Similarly, the content caching server could be a single computer or a collection of networked computers and memory all forming a server. Additionally, while content may be supplied from a content caching server directly or indirectly to a specific client computer, other transfer methods may result in a computer requiring keys to unlock content available to it from a peer computer, portable storage device, or some other transfer mechanism.
II. Overall Flow of Some EmbodimentsThe acquisition process then has the DRM server set 110 and/or purchasing computer 115 perform one or more operations (at 715) to complete the purchase or license transaction. After the transaction has been completed, the DRM server set 110 sends (at 720) a request to the content-caching server set 105 to send the media file for the purchased or licensed content to the computer 115.
The caching server set 105 receives this request at 725, and in response, commences (at 730) a download of the media file to the purchasing computer 115. Examples of such a media file include media files 125, 325, and 625, which were described above by references to
The computer 115 receives (at 735) the media file provided by the caching server set. The computer 115 then sends (at 740) a confirmation of the download to the DRM server set 110. After 740, the DRM server set 110 transitions to a wait state 745 to wait for the confirmation to be received from the computer 115.
Once the DRM server set 110 receives the confirmation of the download at 745, it sends (at 750) to the computer 115 a set of content keys and possibly a set of verification parameters for the media file that the computer 115 receives at 735. Specifically, for each piece of content in the received media file, the DRM server set 110 provides a content key and possibly a verification parameter in case of device-unrestricted content (i.e., in case the media file's content can be played on any device so long as for at least one operation or service other than playback it is authenticated before the operation or service). Various different examples of providing different sets of keys and verification parameters were discussed above by reference to
As shown in
When the acquired content is device-unrestricted, the computer 115 (at 760) uses each received content key to decrypt its associated content piece in the received media file and then discards this key. At 760, the computer stores each received verification parameter in the received media file.
Also, in the embodiments described above, the content-distribution system provides different cryptographic keys for decrypting different pieces of content. In other embodiments, the content-distribution system might utilize different encoding schemes for encrypting different pieces of content. For instance, the system might utilize a symmetric encoding scheme to encrypt audio content but utilize an asymmetric encrypting scheme to encrypt video content. Alternatively, the system might encrypt audio content in its entirety, while encrypting only parts of the video content. Also, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that some embodiments might use the cryptographic keys to directly decrypt the encrypted content pieces, or might use the keys to indirectly decrypt these pieces by decrypting one or more other keys that are used in the process for decrypting these pieces.
III. Content Storage Library and Synchronization with a Player
Through multiple iterations of the content-acquisition process 700, the computer 115 might obtains several different media files containing device-restricted and device-unrestricted content.
In some embodiments, the computer 115 can synchronizes its content with a portable player that is also allowed access to the content. In some cases, this synchronization removes one or more pieces of content from a media file that the computer downloads to the portable player. In some cases, the pieces of content are removed in order to reduce the consumption of resources on the other device. In other cases, content is removed from the media storage structure because the other device does not have rights to access this other content.
Next, the process determines (at 1015) whether the computer 115 is storing any media file for the player, which it has not yet downloaded to the player (i.e., whether there is any media file that needs to be synchronized between the computer and the player). If not, the process ends.
Otherwise, the process selects (at 1020) a media file that needs to be synchronized. At 1020, the process removes from the media file any piece of content that has been designated as content that should not be downloaded to the portable player. In some embodiments, the computer uses an application that allows a user to designate the content that the user wishes to synchronize with the portable player.
If the process removes (at 1020) any content from the media file, it also removes the content's associated content key or verification parameter from the media file in some embodiments of the invention. After 1020, the process downloads (at 1025) the media file that contains only the encrypted content that has to be synchronized with the player (i.e., downloads the media file after any content that should not be downloaded to the player has been removed). In some embodiments, the downloaded media file not only contains one or more pieces of content but also contains (1) one or more content keys that can be used to decrypt the content or (2) one or more verification parameters that can be used to authenticate the content. In some embodiments, the set of keys or parameters that is downloaded in the media file to the player is the same set that are used to decrypt or authenticate the content on the computer 115. In other embodiments, the keys or parameters in the downloaded media files are different than the keys or parameters used on the computer.
The player then stores (at 1025) the downloaded media file on its internal storage (e.g., its internal non-volatile storage, hard drive, flash memory, etc.). After 1025, the process determines (at 1030) whether there is any additional content for the player that it has not yet downloaded to the player (i.e., whether there is any additional content that needs to be synchronized between the computer and the player). If so, the process repeats 1020 and 1025 for a piece of content that needs to be synchronized. If not, the process ends.
In case of device-unrestricted content, some embodiments use the verification parameters associated with this content to authenticate it. In addition, the devices of some embodiments also use the verification parameters of such content to control whether a set of one or more operation or service can be provided for the content. In some embodiments, these operations or services do not include the playback of or access to the content on a device.
At 1110, the process tries to authenticate the piece of content by using the verification parameter that is stored in the media file for the piece of content. This authentication is performed differently in different embodiments of the invention. This authentication is different in different embodiments because the verification parameter stores different data in different embodiments of the invention.
In some embodiments, the process 1100 initially determines (at 1110) that the verification parameter is signed by the appropriate content-distribution source (e.g., a DRM server 110), in order to ensure that its associated content can be safely considered unaltered. Next, in some embodiments, the process examines (at 1110) one or more pieces of data contained in the verification parameter in order to authenticate it. For instance, in some embodiments, the verification parameter contains the identity of the distribution source of the content. In some of these embodiments, this identity is cryptographically protected (e.g., is encrypted) in the verification parameter. The devices in some such embodiments use the verification parameter to identify the content's source in order to determine whether the content 150 has been obtained from the appropriate distribution source.
In other embodiments, the verification parameter does not identify the distribution source but provides other indicia that the process 1100 can use (at 1110) to authenticate that the content has been provided by the appropriate distribution source. For example, in some embodiments, a content piece's verification parameter provides a complete or partial hash signature of the content piece (i.e., a signature that is generate by generating a hash of the entire content or of one or more parts of the content). Accordingly, in these embodiments, the process uses a symmetric or asymmetric hash verification process to authenticate the hash content contained in the verification parameter.
When the process is able to verify (at 1110) a piece of content, it performs (at 1120) the requested operation or service for the piece of content and then ends. Otherwise, when the process is not able to verify (at 1110) the piece of content, it rejects (at 1115) the request and then ends. In some embodiments, each piece of content in a media file with multiple content pieces needs to be authenticated before performing any operation or service on any or all the pieces of contents in the media file.
V. EncryptionAs described above, several embodiments of the invention provide processes and systems for distributing content. These processes and systems encrypt and decrypt content based on cryptographic keys. Encrypting content entails transforming the content from a decipherable form (called plaintext) into an indecipherable form (called ciphertext) based on one or more cryptographic keys. Decrypting content entails transforming encrypted content into a decipherable from by using one or more cryptographic keys.
An encryption key is a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm. In symmetrical encryption technology, the key that is used to encrypt content is the same key that is used to decrypt content. In asymmetric encryption technology, the same key is not used to encrypt and decrypt the content. For instance, in one scheme, an encrypting device uses a public key of a recipient to encrypt content, and the recipient uses its private key to decrypt the encrypted content.
Many of the features of the embodiments described above can be implemented according to a symmetrical or asymmetrical encryption approach. Also, in some embodiments, the encryption is applied to a binary format of the content. Although the unencrypted binary format of a piece of content may be hard for a human to decipher, it can be deciphered by an application or an operating system. On the other hand, encrypted binary format of a piece of content ideally should not be deciphered by any application or operating system, without first being decrypted by using one or more cryptographic keys.
VI. System DiagramThe bus 1205 collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipset buses that support communication among internal devices of the system 1200. For instance, the bus 1205 communicatively connects the processor 1210 with the read-only memory 1220, the system memory 1215, and the permanent storage device 1225.
One or more of the various memory units (1215, 1225, etc.) store the above-described data structures with the content pieces, verification parameters, and content keys. From these various memory units, the processor 1210 retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of the invention. The read-only-memory (ROM) 1220 stores static data and instructions that are needed by the processor 1210 and other modules of the system.
The permanent storage device 1225, on the other hand, is a read-and-write memory device. This device is a non-volatile memory unit that stores instruction and data even when the system 1200 is off. Some embodiments of the invention use a mass-storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive) as the permanent storage device 1225. Other embodiments use a removable storage device (such as a memory card or memory stick) as the permanent storage device.
Like the permanent storage device 1225, the system memory 1215 is a read-and-write memory device. However, unlike storage device 1225, the system memory is a volatile read-and-write memory, such as a random access memory. The system memory stores some of the instructions and data that the processor needs at runtime. In some embodiments, the invention's processes are stored in the system memory 1215, the permanent storage device 1225, and/or the read-only memory 1220.
The bus 1205 also connects to the input and output devices 1230 and 1235. The input devices enable the user to communicate information and select commands to the system. The input devices 1230 include alphanumeric keyboards and cursor-controllers. The output devices 1235 display images generated by the system. The output devices include printers and display devices, such as cathode ray tubes (CRT) or liquid crystal displays (LCD).
Finally, as shown in
While the invention has been described with reference to numerous specific details, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A readable storage medium storing a program for execution, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
- a) receiving a request to perform an operation on a content piece stored in a structure that also stores a verification parameter for the content piece;
- b) using the verification parameter to attempt to authenticate the content piece; and
- d) allowing the performance of the operation only if the content piece is authenticated.
2. The readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a plurality of content pieces and a plurality of verification parameters, each verification parameter for authenticating a content piece.
3. The readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein a particular content piece does not have an associated verification parameter, wherein the operation cannot be performed on the particular content piece as the particular content piece cannot be authenticated without the associated verification parameter.
4. The readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions for using the verification parameter comprises a set of instructions for using the verification parameter to verify that the content piece originated from a particular source.
5. The readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the verification parameter is signed by the particular source.
6. The readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the verification parameter identifies the particular source.
7. The readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that is cryptographically tied to the content piece.
8. The readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that includes a hash signature of at least one part of the content piece.
9. The readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions for using the verification parameter comprises a set of instructions for verifying the hash.
10. A method comprising:
- a) receiving a request to perform an operation on a content piece stored in a structure that also stores a verification parameter for the content piece;
- b) using the verification parameter to attempt to authenticate the content piece; and
- c) allowing the performance of the operation only if the content piece is authenticated.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the structure comprises a plurality of content pieces and a plurality of verification parameters, each verification parameter for authenticating a content piece.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein a particular content piece does not have an associated verification parameter, wherein the operation cannot be performed on the particular content piece as the particular content piece cannot be authenticated without the associated verification parameter.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein using the verification parameter comprises using the verification parameter to verify that the content piece originated from a particular source.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that is cryptographically tied to the content piece.
15. A method comprising:
- identifying a verification parameter (i) for inserting in a structure storing a content piece and (ii) for authenticating the content piece;
- providing the verification parameter.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the content piece is encrypted, the method further comprising providing a key for decrypting the content piece.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing the structure with the content piece in the structure, wherein the structure and the verification parameters are provided by the same set of computers, wherein the verification parameter and the structure are provided to a device.
18. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing the structure with the content piece in the structure, wherein the structure is provided separately than the verification parameter, wherein the verification parameter and the structure are provided to a device.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a request for the content piece and providing the structure and the verification parameter in response to the request.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the verification parameter authenticates the content piece when the parameter verifies that the content piece originated from a particular source.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that is cryptographically tied to the content piece.
22. A method comprising:
- providing a first structure for storing an encrypted first content piece and a key for decrypting the content piece on a device; and
- providing a second structure for storing a second content piece and a verification parameter for verifying the source of the second content piece on the device.
23. A readable medium storing a program comprising sets of instructions for:
- identifying a verification parameter (i) for inserting in a structure storing a content piece and (ii) for authenticating the content piece;
- providing the verification parameter.
24. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the content piece is encrypted, the program further comprising a set of instructions for providing a key for decrypting the content piece.
25. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for providing the structure with a content piece in the structure, wherein the structure is provided separately than the verification parameter.
26. The readable medium of claim 25, wherein the verification parameter and the structure are provided to a device.
27. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for receiving a request for the content piece and providing the structure and the verification parameter in response to the request.
28. The readable medium of claim 27, wherein the structure and the verification parameter are provided from different sets of computers.
29. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the verification parameter authenticates the content piece when the parameter verifies that the content piece originated from a particular source.
30. The readable medium of claim 29, wherein the verification parameter is signed by the particular source.
31. The readable medium of claim 29, wherein the verification parameter identifies the particular source.
32. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that is cryptographically tied to the content piece.
33. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that includes a hash signature of at least one part of the content piece.
34. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the structure stores at least one other content piece, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for identifying and providing another verification parameter for verifying the source of the other content piece.
35. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the structure stores at least one other content piece but does not store a verification parameter for verifying the source of the other content piece.
36. The readable medium of claim 35, wherein the other piece of content is encrypted in the structure.
37. The readable medium of claim 23, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for identifying and providing another verification parameter for another structure storing another content piece.
38. A device comprising:
- a first structure storing an encrypted first content piece and a key for decrypting the content piece;
- a second structure storing a second content piece and a verification parameter for authenticating the second content piece;
- a readable storage structure for storing the first and second structures.
39. The device of claim 38, wherein the device receives the second content piece in the second structure.
40. The device of claim 39, wherein the device further receives another content key, wherein the second content piece is encrypted when the device receives the second structure, wherein the device uses the other key to decrypt the second content piece.
41. The device of claim 39,
- wherein the device further receives the first structure without the key and the second structure without the verification parameter;
- wherein the first structure has a slot for the key and the second structure has a slot for the verification parameter when the structures are sent to the device;
- wherein the device further receives the key and the verification parameter;
- wherein the device inserts the key in the first structure's slot for the key and the verification parameter in the second structure's slot for the verification parameter.
42. The device of claim 38, wherein the verification parameter authenticates the second content piece when the parameter verifies that the second content piece originated from a particular source.
43. The device of claim 42, wherein the verification parameter is signed by the particular source.
44. The device of claim 42, wherein the verification parameter identifies the particular source.
45. The device of claim 38, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that is cryptographically tied to the second piece of content.
46. The device of claim 38, wherein the verification parameter comprises data that includes a hash signature of at least one part of the second piece of content.
47. The device of claim 38, wherein the first structure stores at least another encrypted piece of content and another key for decrypting the other encrypted piece of content.
48. The device of claim 38, wherein the second structure stores at least one other piece of content and another verification parameter for verifying the source of the other piece of content.
49. The device of claim 38, wherein the second structure stores at least one other piece of content but does not store another verification parameter for verifying the source of the other piece of content.
50. The device of claim 49, wherein the other piece of content is encrypted.
51. The device of claim 38 further comprising a third structure for storing decrypted content with no key and no verification parameter.
52. The device of claim 38, wherein the device receives the first and second structures from a same content distribution source.
53. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a computer.
54. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a player.
55. The device of claim 38, wherein the device is a phone.
56. A method comprising:
- receiving a structure storing a piece of content;
- receiving a verification parameter for authenticating the piece of content;
- inserting the verification parameter in the structure.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the content piece is encrypted, the method further comprising:
- receiving a key for decrypting the piece of content;
- decrypting the piece of content.
58. The method of claim 57, wherein the key is not inserted in the structure.
59. The method of claim 57 further comprising discarding the key.
60. The method of claim 56 further comprising requesting the piece of content.
61. The method of claim 60, wherein the structure and the verification parameter are received from different sets of computers.
62. The method of claim 56, wherein the verification parameter authenticates the content piece when the parameter verifies that the content piece originated from a particular source.
63. The method of claim 56, wherein the structure stores at least one other content piece, the method further comprising:
- a) receiving another verification parameter for verifying the source of the other content piece;
- b) inserting the other verification parameter in the structure.
64. The method of claim 56 further comprising:
- receiving another structure storing another piece of content;
- receiving another verification parameter for authenticating the content piece;
- inserting the other verification parameter in the other structure.
65. A readable medium storing a program comprising sets of instructions for:
- receiving a structure storing a piece of content;
- receiving a verification parameter for authenticating the piece of content;
- inserting the verification parameter in the structure.
66. The readable medium of claim 65, wherein the content piece is encrypted, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for:
- receiving a key for decrypting the piece of content;
- decrypting the piece of content.
67. The readable medium of claim 66, wherein the key is not inserted in the structure.
68. The readable medium of claim 66, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for discarding the key.
69. The readable medium of claim 65, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for requesting the piece of content.
70. The readable medium of claim 69, wherein the structure and the verification parameter are received from different sets of computers.
71. The readable medium of claim 65, wherein the verification parameter authenticates the content piece when the parameter verifies that the content piece originated from a particular source.
72. The readable medium of claim 65, wherein the structure stores at least one other content piece, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for:
- a) receiving another verification parameter for verifying the source of the other content piece;
- b) inserting the other verification parameter in the structure.
73. The readable medium of claim 65, wherein the structure stores at least one other content piece but does not store a verification parameter for verifying the source of the other content piece, wherein the other piece of content is encrypted in the structure.
74. The readable medium of claim 65, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for:
- receiving another structure storing another piece of content;
- receiving another verification parameter for authenticating the content piece;
- inserting the other verification parameter in the other structure.
75. The readable medium of claim 65, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for:
- receiving another structure storing a piece of encrypted content;
- receiving a key for decrypting the piece of encrypted content;
- inserting the key in the other structure.
76. The readable medium of claim 75, wherein the two structures are distributed by one content-distribution source.
77. The readable medium of claim 75, wherein the verification parameter and key are distributed by one set of computers.
78. A method of synchronizing content with a device, the method comprising:
- a) identifying a media storage structure that comprises a set of content pieces and a set of verification parameters, each particular verification parameter in the set for verifying a particular content piece;
- b) identifying at least one particular content piece in the set that should not be transferred to the device; and
- c) transferring to the device the media storage structure without the identified particular content piece and without the verification parameter for the identified particular content piece.
79. A readable medium of a device, said readable medium storing a program for synchronizing content with a device, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
- a) identifying a media storage structure that comprises a set of content pieces and a set of verification parameters, each particular verification parameter in the set for verifying a particular content piece;
- b) identifying at least one particular content piece in the set that should not be transferred to the device; and
- c) transferring to the device the media storage structure without the identified particular content piece and without the verification parameter for the identified particular content piece.
80. The readable medium of claim 79, wherein the transferred media storage structure includes a verification parameter for each content piece that is transferred to the device in the media storage structure.
81. The readable medium of claim 79, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for:
- a) identifying another media storage structure that comprises a set of encrypted content pieces that need to be transferred to the device;
- b) identifying at least one particular encrypted content piece in the set that should not be transferred to the device; and
- c) without the identified particular encrypted content piece, transferring the other media storage structure to the device.
82. The readable medium of claim 79,
- wherein the other media storage structure comprises a set of keys that includes a key for each encrypted content piece;
- wherein the transferring comprises transferring the media storage structure without a key for the identified particular encrypted content piece.
83. For a first device, a method of synchronizing with a second device to receive content, the method comprising:
- initiating a synchronization operation between the devices,
- receiving a media storage structure that is stored on the second device and that comprises a set of content pieces and a set of verification parameters, each particular verification parameter in the set for verifying a particular content piece,
- wherein when stored on the second device, the media storage structure includes at least one particular content piece and one verification parameter that are not part of the received media storage structure.
84. A readable medium of a first device, said readable medium storing a program for synchronizing with a second device to receive content, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
- initiating a synchronization operation between the devices,
- receiving a media storage structure that is stored on the second device and that comprises a set of content pieces and a set of verification parameters, each particular verification parameter in the set for verifying a particular content piece,
- wherein when stored on the second device, the media storage structure includes at least one particular content piece and one verification parameter that are not part of the received media storage structure.
85. The readable medium of claim 84, wherein the received media storage structure includes a verification parameter for each content piece that is received by the first device in the media storage structure.
86. The readable medium of claim 84, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving another media storage structure that comprises a set of encrypted content pieces, wherein when stored on the second device, the media storage structure includes at least one particular encrypted content piece that is not part of the received media storage structure.
87. A system for distributing content, the system comprising:
- a) a first device for accessing content;
- b) a second device for (i) storing a media storage structure that comprises a set of content pieces and a verification parameter for each content piece; (ii) identifying at least one particular content piece in the set that should not be transferred to the first device; and (iii) without the identified particular content piece and the verification parameter for the particular content piece, transferring the media storage structure to the first device.
88. A data structure stored on a computer readable medium, the data structure comprising:
- a) header information;
- b) a set of media portions; and
- c) a set of verification parameters, each verification parameter for authenticating a media portion
89. The data structure of claim 88, wherein the set of verification parameters does not include a verification parameter for at least one particular media portion.
90. The data structure of claim 89, wherein the one particular media portion is encrypted, wherein another media portion that has a verification parameter in the data structure is decrypted.
91. The data structure of claim 88, wherein a particular verification parameter is signed by a source of the media portion corresponding to the particular verification parameter.
92. The data structure of claim 88, wherein a particular verification parameter identifies a source of the media portion corresponding to the particular verification parameter.
93. The data structure of claim 88, wherein a particular verification parameter comprises data that is cryptographically tied to the media portion corresponding to the particular verification parameter.
94. The data structure of claim 1, wherein a particular verification parameter comprises data that includes a hash signature of at least one part of a media portion corresponding to the particular verification parameter.
Type: Application
Filed: May 22, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 27, 2008
Patent Grant number: 8347098
Inventors: Augustin J. Farrugia (Cupertino, CA), Gianpaolo Fasoli (Palo Alto, CA), Bertrand Mollinier Toublet (Los Gatos, CA), Mathieu Ciet (Paris)
Application Number: 11/752,276
International Classification: H04L 9/00 (20060101);